Device for filling mechanical flint lighters and for similar purposes



Sept. 10, 1929. V- DUNH|| 1,728,154

DEVICE FOR FILLING MECHANICAL FLINT LIGHTERS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES Filed 001,. 31, 1927 Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED srATEs PATENT OFFICE.

VERNON DUNHILL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

DEVICE FOR FILLING MECHANICAL FLINT LIGHTERS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES.

Application filed October 31, 1927, Serial No. 230,039, and in Great Britain November 19, 1926.

This invention relates to an improved de vice for filling mechanical flint lighters and for similar purposes. Flint lighters usually comprise a reservoir containing a wick soaked in an inflammable substance 'such as petrol or benzene, the reservoir having a illing opening closed yby a screwed plug or the like.

Filling devices for use with flint ylighters in which the action of the device depends on the capillary action of the wick within the reservoir of they lighter are already known. n

The present invention has for its object to provide a filling device, the action of which is not dependent on the capillary action of the wick within the reservoir, so that it may also be used for example for filling articles without a wick.

According to the invention a container is provided having a delivery nozzle fitted with a member slidably mounted therein which, when the container is tilted or inverted, projects through the nozzle outlet and so assists the capillary How of the contents towards the outer end of the member and at the same time allows air to pass into the container between the internal sides of the nozzle and the member causing a continuous :lo delivery of the liquid.

It will be understood that, with the exception of the nozzle opening, the container is airtight.

The slidable member may consist of an open-ended tube of smaller diameter than the nozzle and of which the end which projects through the nozzle when the container is tilted is preferably slit or provided with a series of slits. It has been found that a tube without a slit end will operate successt'ully. The projecting movement of the tube when the container is tilted is limited by a suitable stop preferably so arranged that, when the tube is projected to its limit, the ends of the slit or slits therein extend to a point just within the nozzle.

With such an arrangement, when the container is tilted the tube projects through the nozzle and the slit or slits in the end of the tube assist the capillary fiow of the contents towards the end of the tube, and at the same time air is permitted to enter between the tube and the interior of the nozzle, causing a continuous delivery of the liquid. The projecting end of the tube may obviously be introduced into the reservoir of a lighter or other article to fill same. When the container is tilted yback l-to its upright position the tube returns within the nozzle and the latter may be screw-threaded and closed with a suitable cap ork plug. The tube may be replaced by a rod having a slit end or threads or grooves therein or by a coiled spring.

To enable the invention to be fully understood it will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which y y, n

Fig. l is an elevation of a container having a delivery to one form of the invention, and i s Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the upper portion of the container drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a sectional underside plan view on the line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the nozzle in the inverted filling position, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the nozzle, with the cap removed, when not in use, the section being taken on line 6 6, Fig. 3.

The device comprises a container 7, preferably of metal, having a filling ope ing 8 (Fig. 3) in which is mounted an externally screw-threaded collar 9, the interior of which is shaped as a seat for a closure plug 10 normally held pressed tightly against the seat by a flanged internally screwthreaded collar l1. A tapered externally screwthreaded nozzle l2 is secured to the container, as by brazing or soldering, and is adapted to be yclosed by an internally screwthreaded cap 13 having a sealing washer 14E, the cap engaging the screw threads l5 at the base of the nozzle. The nozzle has a portion 16 depending into the container and forming a spider l? which. acts as a guide for a rod 18 slidably mounted therein, the access of the contents of the connozzle constructed laccordin g tainer to the nozzle not being interfered with. The outer end of the rodlS carries, or is formed with, a portion 19 of larger diameter which is slit longitudinally as best shown in Fig. l.' The inner end of the rod 18 is formed with a stop 2O so that, when the container is inverted and the nozzle cap removed, the portion `19 will project beyond the nozzle'with the ends of the slits just within the nozzle (Fig. Y

The above described device is follows* The nozzlecap 13 is removed and the tapered screw-threaded end of the nozzle is inserted into the filling opening of a lighter or other article and the two articles are used as then inverted. This causes the portion 19 of the rod to project beyond the nozzle as shown in Fig. 5 and the slits in said portion assist the capillary. flow of the contents towards the end of such portion and at the same time air is permitted to enter between the portion 19 and the interior of the nozzle causing a continuous delivery of the f lioluid. lVhen the container is tilted back to its upright position the portion 19fot' the rod returns within the nozzle and the latter is then closed by the cap 13.` 'The portion 19 of the rod may be replacedl by a coiled spring, or by a Vsolid rod having threads or grooves therein or by a tube without a slit end. In the latter case the tube is preferably of slightly larger diameter than the portion 19 of the rod 18 illustrated, but must, of course, allow sufficient clearance between itand the sides of the nozzle for the entry of rair into the container. The tube may have a slit end if desired.

It will be obvious that the invention may be used for delivering liquids for various nirposes, for example, a closed perfume container may be fitted with a nozzle according to the invention so that perfume can be delivered by tilting or inverting the container. Y i

The nozzle need not be screw-threaded and may be covered by any suitable type ofv cap or plug.

f Having thus described the nature of vmy said invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical eiect, I claim -12A device for iilling receptacles comprising a container, a longitudinally bored eXternally-screwthreaded tapered deliverv nozzle on said container for insertion intb the filling opening of areceptacle, said nozzle having a portion depending into said container `and a centrally apertured partition at the lower end of said depending portion, and a rod-like member of smaller cross section than and normally positioned wholly within the longitudinal bore of said nozzle, saidV rod-like member having a rear `mally positioned wholly within the lat-ter,

said rod-like member having a groove to permit the tlow of liquid from said con` tainer when the container is tilted.

3. A Vdevice of the character described, comprising a container, an externallythreaded tapered delivery nozzle on said container for insertion into and connection with the filling aperture of a receptacle, means for sealing said delivery nozzle, a rod-like member in said nozzle and having a longitudinally grooved portion freely slidable beyond the outlet end of the nozzle when said container is tilted, said grooved portion being normally housed within said nozzle, and means for preventing the rodlike member from being Wholly withdrawn from the nozzle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication.

vERNoN DUNHILL.

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